Wishing everyone a happy & healthy holiday with family & friends! We’ll be closing at 2 on Christmas Eve, closed Christmas Day, then back open regular hours 12/26. Same thing the following week!
holiday
Bea discovered earthworms in her garden with Nana Sally!
Many of us will be gathering with family & friends this weekend to cook, eat, play games, and visit. Wonderful times and good weather for relaxing outside!
We’ve been working hard to stock the store with beautiful blooming annuals, perennials, hanging baskets, and tubs of flowers for last minute “dress up” for your garden for the holiday! Come see us this Friday & Saturday for the best of the best in gardening supplies to get your home, yard, and patio ready to greet your guests. We all wish you a very happy holiday weekend!
… and we’ll be closed this Sunday for our time with family. Thank you!!
We’re happy to report that Christmas trees are here and they look amazing! This cool, damp weather is what they love! The garden center is stocked with fresh-cut trees ranging from 5ft to 11ft, and the Gill’s crew has set up one very special Nordmann Fir measuring 22ft at The South Texas Botanical Gardens! Here’s some more info about our Christmas tree varieties this year plus a few important care tips.
Did You Know?
Real fresh-cut trees are the environmentally friendly option – they help support forests and don’t require the carbon emissions that it takes to produce plastic trees. For each fresh tree cut, 1-3 more saplings are planted. These sustainably managed forests consume several thousand pounds of carbon dioxide per year helping to clean our atmosphere and provide oxygen. After the season, recycled trees can be used for building barrier sand dunes on Padre Island, creating artificial reefs in local bay waters, and chipped for garden mulch. No waste!
Tree Varieties at Gill’s
Fraser Fir is one of the most popular trees. They are highly sought for their needle retention, tolerance to warmer climates, soft silvery foliage, and fragrance. We have seen Frasers in March look almost as good as they did in December!
Noble Fir in traditional form or the layered look. Nobles are known for their long-cut life and stiff branches that hold ornaments well. Very fragrant foliage adds to their appeal for the holidays.
Nordmann Fir has a soft needle and little to no fragrance, which makes it a great choice for those with allergies. With excellent needle retention, they are very pretty with contrasting dark green and silver foliage.
We offer delivery + set-up as well as Xmas tree takeaway after the season.
2 Very Important Xmas Tree Care Tips:
#1 – Keep your tree in water! Our trees have had a fresh cut and have been immediately placed in water to maximize freshness. As soon as you get your tree home, get the base of the trunk in water. If you need to wait to put it on the stand, get it in a bucket of water. If you plan to give your tree a fresh cut when you get home, only cut ½” off the base, and you must get it in water within 10 mins, or the cut will seal over and not allow the tree to take up water. Keep monitoring your water level in the stand throughout the season. We carry the Watering Elf which makes refilling super easy.
#2 – Keep your tree away from heating and A/C vents (if a vent is nearby, close it). Heating and A/C will dry out the tree quickly – you don’t want that! You want to keep it as hydrated as possible.
Go See The Big Tree!
We are happy to be a part of the annual Botanical Gardens holiday light display. This year, the majestic 22ft Nordmann is about 20 to 25 years old, younger than most of the big trees the tree farm will harvest. Visit the Botanical Gardens website for more info about holiday hours. Can’t wait to see it all lit up!
We’re thankful to get to do what we do! Thank you for all your plant questions, your landscaping inspiration, and for sharing your excitement and love of gardening with us. We hope you have a great holiday!
December is here! These last few weeks of 2022 are sure to fly by. Our advice: make sure you spend some time in the garden to balance out the hectic holiday season. Here are our top to-do’s this month: what to plant, gift ideas, holiday plant care, and more.
Check out our December Garden Guide for more tips and remember that trees, shrubs, and perennials can be planted 12 months out of the year! The only difference is the amount of water they need depending on temperatures and wind!
1. Plant These in December
There’s always the BEST time to get plants growing and here’s a few that LOVE this season as much as we do!
Strawberries…who could resist picking these sweet jewels in the Spring?
Onions…we grow short-day onion varieties here in South Texas. Lucky for us the 1015 Texas Supersweet is one of those along with tasty Texas Early White & Southern Belle Red.
Roses…our mild winters are perfect for big, beautiful roses & the cooler temps will only make them prettier and the flower color richer.
Trees…shade, flowering, small, big, they all benefit from planting now. Good root development during the cooler months of winter gives them better growth in spring and a deeper, stronger root system to withstand the summer heat.
Ornamental Cabbage…these winter classics need to be planted early this month and enjoyed through the season! Easy care, vibrant colors, and unique texture in the garden.
Alyssum…gorgeous white blooms all winter long. Did you know Alyssum flowers and leaves are edible? They have a pungent horseradish-y flavor.
2. Tips for Holiday Plants
Fresh-cut Christmas Trees…we give all of our trees a fresh cut and get them in water immediately to preserve their freshness. Many customers ask us for another fresh cut before they take the tree home. If you decide to have us do another fresh cut, or if you do it yourself, keep in mind that you have 10 minutes to get the tree in water before that cut seals over! Check water in your tree stand daily and keep it full. If you have pets who like to drink or splash the water, try covering with a piece of foil.
Poinsettias…Think of poinsettias as succulents – because they are! They are a type of euphorbia. That means give them a good drink, but let them dry out between waterings. Also, the leaves bruise and break easily, so avoid touching them as much as possible. So tempting to touch!
Christmas Cactus…Probably the easiest of all holiday plants, and they can last a LONG time! There are stories of Christmas Cacti that have been gifted and passed down through families for 100+ years. They like well-lit areas, but not direct sunlight. Let dry between waterings, then mist the leaves as well as water the soil when its time to water.
Living Holiday Trees…Junipers, Norfolk Pines, Loblolly Pines, Magnolias and Ficus trees all make great Christmas trees that can be planted outside after the holidays. If you bring these in for decorating, be sure they have good bright natural light. Keep watered but not too much, and as soon as the holidays are done…take them outdoors for a breath of fresh air and get them in the ground.
3. Think Gifts for Gardeners!
If you have gardeners on your list this year, we’ve got you covered! Quality tools like these classic French pruning sets, plant-able Christmas cards with wildflowers seeds embedded in them, self-watering ceramic mushrooms, and lots more unique garden gifts. And of course, plants!! If they’re picky, you can’t go wrong with a Gill’s gift card.
4. Plant, Feed, Water Winter Flowers
Winter flowers are AMAZING right now! Violas and Pansies are breathtaking and Geraniums are full of buds and blooms. All that blooming makes them hungry, so take a moment and fertilize your beauties. We love Plant Tone and or Hasta Gro. Both are organic and give you big results. Have that “one more empty pot” to fill?
5. Adjust Your Houseplant Care for Winter
Most houseplants will not experience a complete dormancy period during winter, but they will slow down growth and react to climatic changes like drier conditions inside the house. Give your houseplants more light and less water as temperatures and the amount of daylight hours drop. Dust/shine leaves regularly to ward off insects. Cooler temps = drier conditions and less of the humidity that houseplants love. Try grouping them together to create more humidity, or use a humidifier.
Come take a stroll through our garden and do a little stress-free shopping. We can help you pick out the perfect gifts that grow and other useful gifts that the gardeners on your list will love. Here are 10 gift ideas for green thumbs.
1. Gifts That Grow
Now is a great time to plant winter flowers like petunias, geraniums, and snapdragons are great right now, and they’re quick and easy to plant! Easy for Santa to sneak in and secretly plant a few flowers.
Roses, herbs, strawberries, and onions are all great to plant right now too. Or if you want to make it a truly memorable holiday, plant a tree! Remember that trees benefit greatly from being planted in Fall and Winter, including citrus trees!
2. Poinsettias and Other Holiday Classics
Poinsettias are THE classic holiday décor and centerpiece for holiday meals. They make great gifts for teachers, bosses, coworkers, and friendly acquaintances – they just make people happy!
A blooming Christmas Cactus or Kalanchoe is great too, or a small living holiday tree like a juniper, Norfolk pine, or rosemary. We can gift wrap these for you. Done!
3. Custom-Planted Pottery
Let us help you put together something totally unique! Choose the pots and plants and we can pot it all up for you. Houseplants, flowers, herbs, native plants for pollinators, and lots more can stand alone or be combined in the right pot.
4. Fine Gardening Tools
These French-made hand tool sets from Opinel have been a hit with the pros here at Gill’s. Or a nice set of pruners or loppers. Or even a quality sharp-shooter shovel. Working with quality tools makes gardening a lot more fun.
5. Soothing Wind Chimes
Lots of different tones and styles for relaxing in the garden.
6. Something for the Birds
Birdbaths, feeders, houses, seed, and native plants to attract birds to your loved one’s yard. Watching birds is better than TV!
7. Wildflower Seed Bombs
Maybe the best stocking stuffer for the planet? These little lumps of dirt contain 28 varieties of wildflower seeds that provide food for bees and other pollinators. Just place them where they make contact with bare soil, and wait for flowers to pop up next Spring!
8. Plant-Me Holiday Cards
Our holiday cards this year are completely biodegradable and they have flower seeds embedded in them! Find a sunny spot and plant the card in the ground after the holiday season.
9. Dried Flower Bouquets and Bundles
Come pick and choose different bundles and create your own dried flower bouquet or choose one we’ve put together. No watering or fertilizer required!
10. When in Doubt – Gift Card!
Can’t go wrong with a Gill’s gift card! Good for plants or services too. You could give the gift of landscape design, a food garden next Spring, a planted tree, or anything else we provide. We can help you with ideas there too!
Ori’s houseplant basket with Starfish Sansevieria, Kiwi Dracaena, Calathea, and Rex Begonia Vine!
Many of us will be gathering with family & friends this holiday weekend to cook, eat, play games, and visit. Wonderful times and good rain clearing out for relaxing outside!
We’ve been working hard to stock the store with beautiful blooming annuals, perennials, hanging baskets, and tubs of flowers for last minute “dress up” for your garden for the holiday! Come see us this Friday & Saturday for the best of the best in gardening supplies to get your home, yard, and patio ready to greet your guests. We all wish you a very happy holiday weekend! Gill’s will be closed this Sunday for our time with family. Thank you!!
We’re happy to report that Christmas trees are here and they look….WOW!! These are some of the best quality trees we’ve ever seen! The garden center is stocked with fresh-cut trees ranging from 5ft to 12ft, and the Gill’s crew has delivered one very special Nordmann Fir measuring 22ft at The South Texas Botanical Gardens! Here’s some more info about our Christmas tree varieties this year plus a few important care tips.
Did You Know Real Fresh-Cut Christmas Trees are the Environmentally Friendly Option?
They help support forests and don’t require the carbon emissions that it takes to produce plastic trees. We work with sustainably managed Christmas tree farms who plant 3 new saplings for each tree they harvest. Their forests of Christmas trees consume several thousand pounds of carbon dioxide per year helping to clean our atmosphere and provide oxygen. After the season, recycled trees can be used for building barrier sand dunes on Padre Island, creating artificial reefs in local bay waters, and chipped for garden mulch. No waste!
Tree Varieties at Gill’s
Fraser Fir is one of the most popular trees. They are highly sought for their needle retention, tolerance to warmer climates, soft silvery foliage, and fragrance. We have seen Frasers in March look almost as good as they did in December!
Noble Fir in traditional form or the layered look. Nobles are known for their long-cut life, deep green foliage, and stiff branches that hold ornaments well. Plus, they’re the most fragrant.
Nordmann Fir has a soft needle and little to no fragrance, which makes it a great choice for those with allergies. With excellent needle retention, they are very pretty with contrasting dark green and silver foliage.
We offer delivery + set-up as well as Xmas tree takeaway after the season.
2 Very Important Xmas Tree Care Tips:
#1 – Keep your tree in water! Our trees have had a fresh cut and have been immediately placed in water to maximize freshness. As soon as you get your tree home, get the base of the trunk in water. If you need to wait to put it on the stand, get it in a bucket of water. If you plan to give your tree a fresh cut when you get home, only cut ½” off the base, and you must get it in water within 10 mins, or the cut will seal over and not allow the tree to take up water. Keep monitoring your water level in the stand throughout the season. We carry the Watering Elf which makes refilling super easy.
#2 – Keep your tree away from heating and A/C vents (if a vent is nearby, close it). Heating and A/C will dry out the tree quickly – you don’t want that! You want to keep it as hydrated as possible.
Go See The Big Tree!
We are happy to be a part of the annual Botanical Gardens holiday light display. Visit the Botanical Gardens website for more info about holiday hours. Can’t wait to see this year’s big tree!
